Automatic control system for motion picture machines



July 3, 1934. w ONEILL 1,965,254

AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MOTION PICTURE MACHINES Filed Feb. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M ATTOR EY W. ONEILL July 3, 1934.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MOTION PICTURE MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR [Willa/72 0%! [Z 8Y6 Lid ATTORNEY Filed Feb. 21 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT; ol-"rlca AUTOMATIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MOTION PICTURE MACHINES William O'Neill, New York, N. Y.

Application February 21, 1931, Serial No. 517,429

8 Claims. (Cl. 88-162) This invention relates to an automatic control of these machines is of the talkie motion picsystem for motion picture machines, and has for ture type; or in other words, is equipped with its primary object and purpose to provide means means for the reproduction of the spoken words, operatively connected with one machine for automusic, etc., in synchronized relation with the,

matically energizing the operating motor of a actions of the characters in the scenic portrayal second machine at a predetermined point in the of the play upon the screen. operation of the first machine so that the pos- .An individual electric drive motor 10, 20, 30 sibility of an hiatus or break in the continuity respectively, is provided for each of the picture of the action of the scene or play being porprojecting machines. With each oi. these matrayed upon the screen will not occur by reason chinesthere is also associated two predetermin- 65 of error or inattention on the part of the operator. g counters indicated at 5 and 6 re p ct v It is also a further object of my invention to having a common operating shaft driven from provideasystem or the above character applicable the shaft of the operating motor for the film to such motion picture machines equipped with reel of the proj g machine y a suitable d v- 16 sound reproducing means and in which automatiing connection as'shown at 7. These counters 5 cally acting means is employed to render the and 6 are of a well known type now on the marsound reproduction means of one machine inoperket, and are provided with numeral bearing ative and the sound reproduction means of a secwheels which may be manually set, and also with end machine operative in timed relation to the movable circuit closing switch means indicated automatic energization of the operating motor of at 8 and 9 respectively, which is automatically 7 said second machine. operated when zero is displayed on the several It is also an additional object of the invennumeral wheels to close an electric switch. Intion to provide in such a system applied to three or sofar as the purposes of the present explanation more motion picture machines, means operable are concerned, further detail reference to these in case of emergency, as when one machine for predetermining counters is not required. 80

any reason breaks down or becomes inoperative, Alternating or direct electric current is supwhich will enable the remaining machines to be plied for the operation of the motors 10, 20 and automatically controlled and operated in the from the 110 volt main lines 12 and 13 reproper sequence. spectively. These main lines are connected by '30 With the above and other objects'in view, the su table condu s 14 a 15 W the Spaced invention consists in the improved automatic insulated blades of the movable switch means 8 control system for motion picture machines, and operated by each of t e predetermining t s in the several novel features thereof, as will be d switch blades being adapted to engage hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in spaced contacts 16 w h are connected by the 35', the accompanying drawings, and subsequently inconductors 17, 18 and 19 with the motors 10, 20 corporated in the subjoined 1ai and 30 respectively. In each of these motor cur- I In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated rent pp circuits, t e e is interposed 8- double several simple and, practical applications of my P e w ch 10', 20' and 30' resp ctiv ly- There present invention, and in which similar reteris also provided a shunt circuit 21, 22 and 23 re- 40 ence characters designate corresponding parts sp v y, around ac t e switch means throughout the several views, 8l8, each of said shunt circuits having a double Figure l diagrammatically illustrates my im- D switch e respectively, interproved control system as applied for use in con- P sed therein.

nection with the series of three motion picture The sound reproduction means of each pro- 1 machines, and I I jecting machine is connected by the wires 1, 2"

Fig.2 diagrammatically illustrates the systemas and 3' respectively, with a pair of switch conused in connection with two motion picture matacts 24, 25 and 26. In spaced relation to each chines. J of said pairs or contacts, the complementary co'n- Referring in detail to the drawings, and more tacts 24', 25 and 26 arearranged andconnected 50 particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, 1, 2 and 3 respecby suitable wiring indicated at 2'! to sound amtively, indicate three individual motion picture pliflers (not shown). With the spaced pairs of projecting machines which may be suitably contacts associated with each of the projecting mounted and arranged in the conventional manmachines, a movable switch member indicated ner within the operators room or station. In at 2 4, 25, and 26 respectively, is cooperatively 65 the illustrated application or my invention, each arranged. Each 0! these movable switch mem- 34 are connected in parallel at one of their ends.

The other ends of the solenoid coils 31, 32, 33 and 34 are connected by the wires 35 with the main line current feed wire 13. In these conductors 35, the cut-out switches 10', 20 and 30 for the respective sound and dowser circuits are interposed.

The other side of the circuit for the solenoids 31, 32, 33 and 34 is through wire 35 connected with contact 9 and wire 36 which connects the movable switch member 9 with the current feed wire 12. r

Solenoid 33 when energized, actuates the movable shutter or dowser of the picture projecting machine to its closed position while the solenoid 34 when energized, actuates said shutter to its open position.

In addition to the foregoing, certain emergency circuits are provided. Thus, additional current supply wires 17, 18 and 19 are provided for the motors 10, 20 and 30 respectively. The switches 10', 20 and 30 are of the double throw type, and innormal operation, are engaged with the terminals of the main supply wires 17, 18 and 19.

] When thrown in the opposite direction, the

switch 10 will close the circuit through wires 18', to motor 20, while the switch 20 will close the circuit through wires 19' to motor 30, and switch 30' will close the circuit through wires 1'7 to motor 10. The emergency circuits for thelight shutters and sound reproducing means include a wire 40 connecting the solenoid 33 for machine #1 with solenoid 34 for machine #2 and wire 41 which connects solenoid 33 for machine #2 with the solenoid 34 for machine #3. These wires are connected with each other by wire 42 in which a switch 20 is interposed. The solenoid 33 of machine #3 is also electrically connected by the wiring 43 with the solenoids 34 of machines numbered 1 and 2, a switch 10 being interposed in the circuit between the solenoid 33 of machine #3 and solenoid 34-of machine #2. The solenoid 34 of machine #1 is also connected by the conductor 44 with the solenoid 33 ofmachine #2 and has a switch 30 interposed therein.

I also provide switches 10 20 and 30 whereby'the circuits for the sound control switches.

acters have therefore, been applied to the same' parts in both diagrams. It will further be apparent that with only two machines to be operated, only a single cut-out switch 10 is required in the sound and dowser or shutter control circuit of projecting machine #1.

In preparing the projecting machines for operation, the operator first ascertains the exact number of feet in each film reel from the starting position in the light aperture of the machine to a predetermined distance from the end of the film, at which point the next projecting machine in the series is to be started in operation. Assuming as indicated in Fig. 1 .of the drawings, that for the reel of machine #1 this distance is '784 feet, this number is set up manually on the numeral wheels of the predetermining counter 5 associated with the first projecting machine. There still remains a relatively short length of the film having images thereon, at the end of which the change over of the sound reproduction and the projection of the pictures or images isto be made from machine #1 to machine #2. Assuming that this additional length of the film is 10 feet, the operator will then set up the number 794 on the numeral wheels of the predetermining counter 6 associated with machine #1. This same procedure is observed with respect to the film reels for machines numbered 2 and 3, and the counters 5 and 6 associated with the latter machines are set accordingly.

Assuming that the several switches 10, 20' and 30' have all been thrown to the right and are in closed engagement with the terminals of the circuit wires 1'7, 13 and 19 respectively, the operator now closes switch 10 and the cut-out switches 10 and 20 The operating circuit for motor 10 is thus closed from the current supply lines 12 and 13 throughthe switches, 10 and 10 and conductors 1'7. In the operation of the projecting machine #1, counters 5 and 6 associated therewith are synchronously operated and when the numeral wheels of counter 5 have all been returned to zero, switch members 8 are automatically actuated to engage contacts 16 and close a circuit for the motor of projecting machine #2 from the line supply wires through wires 14 and 15, switch 20 and wires 18. This starts machine #2 in operation. The light shutter or dowser there- 01' however, is in closed position and the images will not be projected from said machine. When. an additional-10 feet of film is run through machine #1 and the numeral wheels of counter 6 have all been returned to the zero position, switch member 9 is then automatically actuated and engaged with contact 9 to close the circuit from the supply line 12 through conductor 35, solenoid coils 31 and 33, wire 35, cut-out switch 10 and supply line 13. Simultaneously a circuit is closed through wire 40 and the solenoid coils 32 and 34 of the machine #Zconductor 35 connected therewith and cut-out switch 20 to--the supply line 13. Thus, it will be understood that by the energization of solenoid 31 of machine #1 and 32 of machine #2, the switch member 24 of the first machine is moved to open position, thereby breaking the electrical connection between the sound reproduction means of said machine and the amplifiers, while switch member 25 is moved to its closed position to engage contacts 25 and 25 and close the circuit between the sound reproduction means 01' the second machine and the amplifiers through conductors 2 and 27. Simultaneously, by closing the circuit of solenoid 33 associated with the first'machine and solenoid 34 associated with the second machine, the dowser or light shutter oi the first machine is moved to closed position while the shutter of machine #2 is movedto its open position.' Thus, the sound reproduction is automatically transferred and synchronized with the projection of the picture images from machine #2.

After this transfer or change over is made from machine #1 to machine #2,. the operator then opens switch 10, breaking the circuit of upon the screen.

chines as shown in Fig. 1 are used. After this operation is completed, and before re-setting the predetermining counter 5 of machine #1, the operator must close switch 20 so that the operating'c'ircuit for motor 20 of machine #2 will be maintained. If he fails to close this switch and re-sets the counter, the motor operating circuit ,would be broken at the switch contact 16. The

predetermining counter 6 howeven'may be reset without iirst closing a switch.

' when the film reel of machine #2 approaches its end, the same operations will take place as above described to automatically start the operation of machine #3 at the proper time and synchronize the projection of the pictures with the sound reproduction, without any noticeable break in the continuity of the action portrayed In like manner, the 'counters 5 and 6 of machine #1 having been properly re-set, as the film of machine #3 approaches its end, the automatic transference ofthe picture projection and sound reproduction will take place from machine #3 to machine #1. During operation of machine #3, cut-out switch 20 is opened and switches 10 and 30 are closed.

By the provision of an automatic control system operating in the manner above described, it will be seen that plays of great length requiring three or more reels of filmmay be properly displayed without any break in the continuity of the action or interruption in the properly synchronized reproduction of the sound, and without requiring the attention or' any action by the operator or attendant, insofar as the automatic transference of such operations from one maing manner.

First, switch 20 is opened, thus stopping the operation of machine #2. The double throw double-pole switch 20' is then thrown over to the left and connected with the terminals of wire 19.' Test switch 20- is momentarily closed which will break the circuit of sound reproduction means for machine #2 and close the light shutter' or dowser thereof, while the circuit for sound reproduction means of machine #3 is closed I and the light shutter thereof moved to open position. Cut-out switch 20 is then opened and switches 10 and 30 are closed. The emergency switch 20 is also closed. Upon now closing switch 20', operating current will be supplied through wires 19' to motor 30, thus operating the projecting machine #3. Upon the exhaustion of the film from this machine, the .operations are automatically. transferred to machine #1, the operating circuit of motor 10 being closed through the switch contacts of the counter 5 associatedwith machine #3, and through switch 10' and wires 1'7. The sound and dowser circuits are closed through switch 20 through wires 42 and 43 which connect the solenoids 31 and 33 of machine #3 with the solenoids 32 and 34' of machine #1. In a similar manner, it is possible at any time, to cut out one machine in the event of emergency from any connection with the electrical control system, and continue the operation between the other two machines.

The predetermining counters 5 and 6 for automatically controlling the several circuits, directly operated by the motors of the picture projecting machines, enable my invention to be used in conjunction with such machines having selfcontained sound reproducing means controlled by a sound track on the film, this type of talking motion picture machine being in almost universal use in preference to that type in which separate sound discs or records are used and operatively synchronized with the projection machine. Also this feature of my invention enables the same to-be used to equal advantage in the projection of either silent or talking motion pictures.

From the foregoing description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the relative arrangement of the several parts constituting my improved system of automatic control for a plurality of motion picture machines will be clearly understood. It will be evident that such a system will largely eliminate human error in the operation of such machines, or improper operation/ thereof, due to independent manual control and inattention on the part of the operator, which results in a break or hiatus between the termination of the picture projecting operation of one machine, and the beginning of such operation by a second machine. It will, of course, be understood that the various arrangements of switches and operating means therefor as indicated in the accompanying drawings are largely suggestive, and may be modified as circumstances or conditions might require. Also various equivalents for the predetermining counters 5 and 6 might be provided for the purpose of automatically opening and closing the necessary circuits in proper relation to the operation of the motion picture film.

It is therefore, to,be understood that in the further commercial development of my present invention, I reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate variations of the several novel features of my improved system as herein dis closed, which may fairly be considered as within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

- I claim:

' 1. In combination with a plurality of motion picture machines each having a single sound re-' producing means and individual operating motors for said machines; an automatic control system including a current supply circuit for each motor, a normally open switch in each of said circuits, circuit connections between the sound reproducing means of each machine and sound amplifiers, a separate switch in each of said circuit connections, electrical means associated with and directly actuating each of the latter switches to independently operate the same to open and closed positions, a control circuit for each of said switch operating means, anormally open switch in each of the latter circuits, and means associated with each machine and operatively connected with the motor therefor independently of the sound reproducing means to actuate said normally open switch in the motor circuit of a second, machine to closed position and to close said normally open switch in the sound 'reproduction control circuitof said second machine means and individual operating motors for said machines; an automatic control system including a current supply circuit for each motor, a normally open switch in each of said circuits, circuit connections between the sound reproducing means of each machine and sound amplifiers, a switch in each of said circuit connections, electrical means associated with each of the latter switches to operate the same to open and closed positions, a movable shutter for the light aperture of each machine, electrical means for operating each shutter to open and closed positions, a common energizing circuit for the electrical switch and shutter operating means associated with each machine, a normally open switch in each of said circuits, and means associated with each machine and operatively connected with the motor therefor to actuate said normally open switch in the motor circuit of another of said machines to closed position and said normally open switch in the sound reproduction circuit of said first machine at a predetermined time in the operation of said first machine.

3. In combination with a plurality of motion picture machines each having sound reproducing means and individual operating motors for said machines; an automatic control system including a current supply circuit for each motor, a normally open switch in each of said circuits, circuit connections between the sound reproducing means of each machine and sound amplifiers, a switch ineach of said circuit connections, electrical means associated with each of the latter switches to operate the same to open and closed positions, a circuit for each of said switch operat; ing means, a normally open switch in each of the latter circuits, a pair of predeterrnining counters associated with each machine having a common driving connection with the operating motor therefor, said counters adapted to be set in accordance with the footage of the film reels in the respective machines, one ofthe counters in each pair actuating the open switch in the motor circuit of another of said machines to closed position, and the other of said counters actuating the open switch in the circuit of the operating means for the switch in the sound reproduction circuit of said machine to its closed position and in predetermined timed relation to the closing of the switch in said motor circuit.

4. In combination with a plurality of motion picture machines each having sound reproducing means and individual operating motors for said machines; an automatic control system including a current supply circuit for each motor, a nor mally open switch in each of said circuits, circuit connections between the sound reproducing means of each machine and sound amplifiers, a switch in each of said circuit connections, electrical means associated with each of the latter switches to operate the same to open and closed positions, a movable shutter for the light aperture of each machine, electrical means for operating each shutter to open and closed positions, a common energizing circuit for the electrical switch and shutter operating means associated with each machine, a normallyopenswitch in each of said circuits, a pair of predetermining counters associated with each machine having a common driving connection with the operating motor therefor, said counters adapted to be set in accordance with the footage of the film reels in the respective machines, one of the counters in each pair actuating the open switch in the motor circuit of another of said machines to closed position, and the other of said counters actuating the open switch in the circuit of the operating means for the switch in the sound reproduction circuit of the machine with which the latter counter is associated and the operating means for the light aperture shutter of said machine to their open and closed positions respectively and simultaneously energizing the switch and shutter operating mean for said other machine to close the reproduction circuit thereof and move the shutter to open position. I

5. In combination with a plurality of motion picture machines and individual operating motors therefor, an automatic control system including acurrent supply circuit for each motor, a normally open switch in each circuit, a device associated with each machine and operatively connected with the motor therefor to actuate the open switch in the motor circuit of one of the other machines to closed position at a predetermined time in the operation of said first machine, an additional emergency circuit for each motor, double throw switches for connecting the respective motors either in said first-named circuit or in the emergency circuit therefor, and an addi- 'tional manually operable switch connected in each of the first-named motor circuits for closing said circuit independently of the normally open switch.

6. In combination with a plurality of motion picture machines and individual operating motors therefor, an automatic control system including acurrent supply circuit for each motor, a normally open switch in each circuit, a predeter- I mining counter associated with each machine adapted to be set in accordance with the footage of the film reel for said machine and operatively connected with the motor therefor to actuate the open switch in the motor circuit of one of the other machines to closed position at a predetermined time in advance of the termination of the run of film of said first machine, an additional emergency circuit for each motor, double throw switches for connecting the respective motors either in said first-named circuit or in the emergency circuit therefor, and an additional manually operable switch connected in each of the first-named motor circuits for closing said circuit independently of the normally open switch. 4

I. In combination with a plurality of motion picture machines each having sound reproducing means and individual operating motors for said machines; an automatic control system including'a current supply circuit for each motor, a normally open switch in each of said circuits, circuit connections between the sound reproducing means of each machine and sound ampliflers, a switch in each of said circuit connections, electrical means .associated with each of the latter switches to operate the same to open and' closed postions, a movable shutter for the light aperture of each machine, electrical means for v emergency circuit for each motor, double throw switches for connecting the respective motors either in said first-named circuit or in the emergency circuit therefor, an additional manually operable switch connected in each of the firstnamed motor circuits for closing said circuit independently of the normally open switch, and emergency circuits for the switch and light shutter operating means associated with each machine and a normally open switch in each of the latter emergency circuits.

8. In combination with a plurality of motion picture machines and individual operating motorstherefon'each machine being provided with a light aperture shutter and having sound reproducing means associated therewith, means operatively controlled by the motor for each machine independently ofl its sound reproducing means to energize the motor of a second machine at a predetermined time in advance of the termination of the run of film in said first machine, actuating means for the shutter 01' each machine, and additional means controlled by the motor of said first machine for energizing the shutter actuating means to move the shutter 01 the second machine to open position and for simultaneously rendering the sound reproducing means of the first machine inoperative and rendering the sound reproducing means of the second machine operative upon exhaustionof the film in said first machine.

4 WILLIAM O'NEILL. 

